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Overview
Angélique et le roy is a French adventure film first released in 1966,
directed by Bernard Borderie.
The film is based on a novel by Anne Golon and Serge Golon and stars Michèle Mercier, Robert Hossein, Jean Rochefort, Jacques Toja and Sami Frey.
It has also been released under the title: Angelique and the King.
Our overall rating for this film is: good.
Synopsis
After her second husband, Philippe de Plessis-Bellières, has been killed in battle,
the influential marquise Angélique withdraws from court life to look after her
children. Her retirement is short-lived, however. The King of France, Louis
XIV, summons her to fulfil an essential mission of state: she must charm the Persian ambassador
into signing a vital pact with France. When the King offers to restore to her the
estate of her first husband, Joffrey de Peyrac (executed for sorcery), Angèlique
accepts, but reluctantly…
Film Review
The third in the series of five films adapted from the stories by Anne et Serge Golon
sees Angélique torn between her loyalties to her state (whom she must serve to
safeguard her children’s future) and her first husband, whom she believes to be
still alive. Whilst the sentiment is steeped a little high, strong performances, particularly
from Michèle Mercier as Angélique, Sami Frey as the Persian Ambassador and
Jacques Toja as Louis XIV, prevents this from spoiling an otherwise faultless entry in
the Angélique series.
The high production values which we associate with French historical dramas are evident for all to see, with sumptuous spacious sets and impressive costumes. The spicy mix of dangerous court intrigue and romantic liaisons, with grisly deaths and mildly erotic love scenes, makes this an uncompromisingly adult film (at least for a 1960s audience). Whilst there are a few action scenes, this film is more restrained than the others in the series. Whilst the ending feels like something of an anti-climax, it does encourage the viewer to look forward to the next film in the series. © James Travers 2000 Write a review for this film... User Comments
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Related links
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Credits
Similar films:
If you like this film you may also like the following: Alphaville (1965) La Belle meunière (1948) Le Bossu (1960) La Chambre verte (1978) Le Corniaud (1965) Le Dernier métro (1980) Élise ou la vraie vie (1970) L’Étrange Madame X (1951) Extérieur, nuit (1980) Léon Morin, prêtre (1961) Les Liaisons dangereuses (1959) La Nuit de Varennes (1982) Un mauvais fils (1980) La Veuve Couderc (1971) |
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